1963–64 Port Vale F.C. season
1963–64 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Tom Talbot | |
Manager | Freddie Steele | |
Stadium | Vale Park | |
Football League Third Division | 13th (46 Points) | |
FA Cup | Fourth Round (knocked out by Liverpool) | |
League Cup | First Round (knocked out by Southend United) | |
Top goalscorer | League: Tony Richards (12) All: Tony Richards (13) | |
Highest home attendance | 42,179 vs. Liverpool, 27 January 1964 | |
Lowest home attendance | 4,497 vs. Wrexham, 25 April 1964 | |
Average home league attendance | 10,056 | |
Biggest win | 5–0 vs. Wrexham, 25 April 1964 | |
Biggest defeat | 0–3 (twice) and 1–4 | |
| ||
The 1963–64 season was Port Vale's 52nd season of football in the English Football League, and their fifth season in the Third Division.[1] Freddie Steele spent big on transfers, bringing in players such as Billy Bingham, Albert Cheesebrough, and Jackie Mudie. However, it was a disappointing season in the league and a disaster financially. The highlights of the season came in the FA Cup, where Vale beat top-flight Birmingham City at St Andrew's, and drew 0–0 with Liverpool at Anfield.
Overview
[edit]Third Division
[edit]The pre-season saw manager Freddie Steele spend unprecedented sums of money – though Vale's spending was insignificant to the standard of many of their rivals.[1] Steele brought in Northern Ireland international Billy Bingham from Everton for £15,000; Albert Cheesebrough from Leicester City for another £15,000; as well as Walsall's Tim Rawlings for £4,000.[1] Chairman Tom Talbot approved these signings despite the club's financial problems.[1] The club also took a tour of Northern Ireland, though a friendly with Benfica (arranged to match rivals Stoke City's match with Real Madrid) was cancelled due to fixture congestion.[1]
The season opened with a 1–0 defeat to Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow.[1] This was followed with two victories, including a 4–1 win over Bristol City in which Tony Richards bagged a hat-trick.[1] After another three poor away games came, followed by a 3–0 win over Brentford in which Cheesebrough scored a hat-trick, and a 4–0 win over nearby Crewe Alexandra in front of 17,118 fans.[1] Richards sustained a bad leg injury in this win over Crewe.[1] In the beginning of October, Steele bought winger Ron Smith from Crewe for £6,500.[1] Vale improved as a consequence, and three successive victories followed, leaving Vale in fifth spot.[1] However, with Richards' return came a downturn in form, as Vale's impressive strikers failed to find the net in a run of one win in nine league games.[1] This one win was a 1–0 victory over struggling Barnsley at Vale Park. However, a subsequent pitch invasion by youths emphasised a growing hooligan culture that would plague the club and the sport itself for decades.[1]
In November, Vale paid Stoke City £12,000 for both ex-Scotland striker Jackie Mudie and left-back Ron Wilson.[1] The defeats kept coming, and so Steele experimented with a 4–2–4 formation, dropping Richards from the first XI.[1] Vale then went six league games unbeaten, including a 4–4 draw with Bristol Rovers at the Eastville Stadium.[1] However, a 1–0 home loss inflicted by Notts County sent Vale on a run of seven defeats and two draws in nine league games.[1] By March, the club was in a relegation battle, though results then began to go Vale's way.[1] Only one defeat in their final eleven games ensured safety, as the season ended with a 5–0 drubbing of relegated Wrexham.[1]
They finished in thirteenth place with 46 points, a poor finish for the money spent on transfers.[1] Only 53 goals were scored, as Richards and Cheeseborough were affected with injuries, and Bingham struggled to find his footing in the third tier.[1] Their 49 goals conceded was an excellent record though.[1]
Finances
[edit]On the financial side, good attendance figures failed to prevent a massive loss of £42,650, resulting from a £45,567 deficit in transfer fees.[1] A donation of £19,867 from the Sportsmen's Association and the social club could not disguise the disaster of poor finances.[1] The wage bill had also risen by 20% to over £40,000.[1] Leaving the club were Colin Grainger to Doncaster Rovers and Terry Harkin to Crewe Alexandra for a £3,000 fee.[1]
Cup competitions
[edit]In the FA Cup, Vale conquered Fourth Division Bradford City with a 2–1 win at Valley Parade. They defeated Workington 2–1 in a 'slipshod affair'.[1] The Third Round held First Division Birmingham City at St Andrew's. Three thousand of the 21,652 spectators were Vale fans, who 'sung and chanted their way through' a 2–1 victory.[1] In the Fourth Round Vale were drawn against top-flight giants Liverpool at Anfield. The "Reds" had inflicted a 6–1 thrashing of Stoke on Boxing Day, in an ominous sign of the challenge the "Valiants" faced.[1] Vale achieved a goalless draw in front of 52,327 fans – 8,000 of them Vale supporters – in a fantastic team performance.[1] The replay at Vale Park ended in a 2–1 loss in front of 42,179 paying fans (as well as an additional 6,000 or so Liverpool supporters who 'mob stormed' the gates to enter the Railway Paddock).[1] Crowd trouble ate into the £8,000 worth of gate receipts, and more significantly caused the death of a Leek man (Harold Birch), and saw serious injuries inflicted to Liverpool fans Harry Taylor and James McDonough, as well as Vale supporter Billy Poulson.[1]
In the League Cup, a First Round exit came with a 2–1 defeat at Southend United's Roots Hall.
League table
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 73 | 80 | 0.913 | 47 |
12 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 19 | 8 | 19 | 91 | 79 | 1.152 | 46 |
13 | Port Vale | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 53 | 49 | 1.082 | 46 |
14 | Southend United | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 77 | 78 | 0.987 | 45 |
15 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 76 | 78 | 0.974 | 45 |
Results
[edit]Port Vale's score comes first
Football League Third Division
[edit]Results by matchday
[edit]Matches
[edit]Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 August 1963 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 0–1 | 9,710 | |
26 August 1963 | Mansfield Town | H | 1–0 | 14,451 | Richards |
31 August 1963 | Bristol City | H | 4–1 | 10,363 | Richards (3), Rowland |
7 September 1963 | Oldham Athletic | A | 0–1 | 14,730 | |
9 September 1963 | Mansfield Town | A | 1–1 | 12,064 | B.Hancock |
14 September 1963 | Notts County | A | 0–2 | 7,309 | |
16 September 1963 | Brentford | H | 3–0 | 11,539 | Cheesebrough (3) |
21 September 1963 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 4–0 | 17,118 | Cheesebrough, Bingham, Steele, Richards |
28 September 1963 | Crystal Palace | A | 0–2 | 15,044 | |
1 October 1963 | Brentford | A | 2–1 | 11,914 | Poole, Cheesebrough |
5 October 1963 | Walsall | H | 2–2 | 12,760 | Bingham, o.g. |
9 October 1963 | Luton Town | A | 0–1 | 5,914 | |
12 October 1963 | Southend United | H | 4–1 | 10,306 | Rowland, Smith, Harkin, Miles |
14 October 1963 | Luton Town | H | 1–0 | 11,449 | Rawlings |
19 October 1963 | Wrexham | A | 2–1 | 6,781 | Bingham (2) |
23 October 1963 | Reading | A | 0–1 | 8,731 | |
26 October 1963 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | H | 0–0 | 12,402 | |
28 October 1963 | Reading | H | 0–0 | 9,492 | |
2 November 1963 | Hull City | A | 1–4 | 8,460 | Richards |
9 November 1963 | Barnsley | H | 1–0 | 9,083 | Steele |
23 November 1963 | Colchester United | H | 0–2 | 11,108 | |
30 November 1963 | Watford | A | 1–1 | 9,890 | Poole |
14 December 1963 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 1–1 | 6,906 | Mudie |
21 December 1963 | Bristol City | A | 0–0 | 6,021 | |
26 December 1963 | Bristol Rovers | H | 1–0 | 11,442 | Mudie |
28 December 1963 | Bristol Rovers | A | 4–4 | 12,954 | Richards (2), Mudie (2) |
11 January 1964 | Oldham Athletic | H | 1–0 | 12,322 | Richards |
18 January 1964 | Notts County | H | 0–1 | 7,337 | |
31 January 1964 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–1 | 9,425 | |
8 February 1964 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–2 | 8,204 | Richards |
15 February 1964 | Walsall | A | 1–2 | 7,056 | Mudie |
22 February 1964 | Southend United | A | 1–1 | 7,612 | Smith |
29 February 1964 | Peterborough United | H | 1–2 | 6,613 | Poole |
7 March 1964 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 0–3 | 7,584 | |
16 March 1964 | Millwall | A | 1–3 | 8,312 | Mudie |
23 March 1964 | Peterborough United | A | 1–1 | 10,408 | Steele |
28 March 1964 | Millwall | H | 1–0 | 5,385 | Bingham |
30 March 1964 | Coventry City | H | 1–1 | 17,567 | Steele |
31 March 1964 | Coventry City | A | 1–1 | 29,641 | Smith |
4 April 1964 | Colchester United | A | 2–1 | 3,263 | Miles, Rowland |
6 April 1964 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–0 | 7,167 | Steele, Smith |
11 April 1964 | Watford | H | 0–0 | 7,698 | |
13 April 1964 | Hull City | H | 1–0 | 6,090 | Rowland |
18 April 1964 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 0–3 | 4,955 | |
20 April 1964 | Barnsley | A | 0–0 | 4,918 | |
25 April 1964 | Wrexham | H | 5–0 | 4,497 | Richards (2), Bingham (pen), Smith, Cheesebrough |
FA Cup
[edit]Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 | 16 November 1963 | Bradford City | A | 2–1 | 8,189 | Whalley, Richards |
R2 | 7 December 1963 | Workington | H | 2–1 | 10,286 | Steele, Bingham |
R3 | 4 January 1964 | Birmingham City | A | 2–1 | 21,652 | Sproson, Mudie |
R4 | 25 January 1964 | Liverpool | A | 0–0 | 52,327 | |
R4 Replay | 27 January 1964 | Liverpool | H | 1–2 | 42,179 | Cheesebrough |
League Cup
[edit]Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R2 | 25 September 1963 | Southend United | A | 1–2 | 6,126 | Harkin |
Player statistics
[edit]Appearances and goals
[edit]Pos. | Name | Football League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
GK | ![]() |
44 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 0 |
GK | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
46 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 1 |
DF | ![]() |
41 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 1 |
DF | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
46 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 2 |
MF | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
19 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
MF | ![]() |
34 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 5 |
FW | ![]() |
26 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 3 |
FW | ![]() |
44 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 6 |
FW | ![]() |
5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
FW | ![]() |
23 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 4 |
FW | ![]() |
30 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 13 |
FW | ![]() |
10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2 |
FW | ![]() |
18 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 7 |
FW | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
35 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 7 |
FW | ![]() |
25 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 7 |
Top scorers
[edit]Place | Position | Nation | Name | Third Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | FW | ![]() |
Tony Richards | 12 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
2 | FW | ![]() |
Jackie Mudie | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
– | FW | ![]() |
Billy Bingham | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
– | FW | ![]() |
Albert Cheesebrough | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
5 | FW | ![]() |
Stan Steele | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
6 | MF | ![]() |
Ron Smith | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
7 | FW | ![]() |
John Rowland | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
8 | FW | ![]() |
Harry Poole | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
9 | MF | ![]() |
Terry Miles | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
– | FW | ![]() |
Terry Harkin | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
11 | FW | ![]() |
Barry Hancock | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
– | FW | ![]() |
Tim Rawlings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
– | DF | ![]() |
Roy Sproson | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
– | DF | ![]() |
Selwyn Whalley | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
– | – | – | Own goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
TOTALS | 53 | 7 | 1 | 61 |
Transfers
[edit]Transfers in
[edit]Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
June 1963 | MF | ![]() |
Tim Rawlings | Walsall | £4,000 | [3] |
August 1963 | FW | ![]() |
Albert Cheesebrough | Leicester City | £20,000 | [3] |
August 1963 | FW | ![]() |
Billy Bingham | Everton | £15,000 | [3] |
October 1963 | MF | ![]() |
Ron Smith | Crewe Alexandra | £6,500 | [3] |
November 1963 | FW | ![]() |
Jackie Mudie | Stoke City | £12,000 | [3] |
November 1963 | DF | ![]() |
Ron Wilson | Stoke City | £12,000 | [3] |
Transfers out
[edit]Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
May 1964 | GK | ![]() |
John Cooke | Macclesfield Town | Free transfer | [3] |
July 1964 | MF | ![]() |
Terry Harkin | Crewe Alexandra | £3,000 | [3] |
July 1964 | MF | ![]() |
Jim Watton | Doncaster Rovers | Free transfer | [3] |
Summer 1964 | FW | ![]() |
Barry Hancock | Crewe Alexandra | Released | [3] |
References
[edit]- Specific
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af Kent, Jeff (1990). "Flattering Only to Deceive (1960–1969)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 196–226. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
- ^ Port Vale 1963–1964 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- General
- Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.